Page 13 - Base Student Allocation News Today

Ketchikan, Alaska news. Southeast Alaska news, Alaska news, national and world news.

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

The state Senate passed a bill that would allocate millions more for public school funding annually, sending the legislation to the House for review with less than one week before the end of session.

The Senate advanced a $175 million education funding increase to the floor, but a permanent school spending increase is not assured.

The House Ways and Means Committee advanced a bill that would add millions in new spending on home-schooled students.

The Senate insists that state savings should not be used to balance the budget, which clashes with the House’s plan for a $2,700 PFD paid by a substantial savings draw.

The House Education Committee advanced a bill that would require parents to sign off on every school class, activity or program.

The Legislature hasn’t decided how much it will spend next year, leaving schools to draft their budgets based on guesswork.

A week after Gov. Mike Dunleavy told lawmakers he would propose a new sales tax bill, lawmakers have yet to see it.

School districts around the state are waiting anxiously to see if the Alaska Legislature will increase school funding after years of stagnant state support.